Correspondence between George Romney, HUD director, and Richard Nixon, United States President.

THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, D. C .. 20410
The President
The White House
Dear Mr. President:
November 9, 1972
In submitting my resignation from the Cabinet, I want to
thank you for the privilege of serving the nation under your great
leadership. The experience has been a rewarding and invaluable one
that, among other things, has deepened my understanding of our
country's political processes.
As you know from our several in-depth discussions during
the past year, my experience in public service has convinced me that
inherent limitations in those political processes make the achievement
of fundamental reform too dependent upon a crisis.
This results primarily from the essential but limited
function of political parties and their candidates. Their basic function
is to compete for the responsibility to govern. To win in this competition
they must win elections. To do this they tend to avoid specific positions
concerning, and discussion of, "life and death" issues in their." formative
and controversial stage for fear of offending uninformed voters and thus
losing votes. As a result, elections and candidates. seldom focus
adequately on those vital issues concerning which the electorate must
be knowledgeable if needed reform is to occur without a crisis.
To remedy this deficiency, the nation needs a coalition of
concerned citizens dedicated to defining such issues, assembling the
relevant, provable facts, identifying the alternate solutions or solution,
and communicating their fin::lings to the people. Such a body of truth .
seekers and communicators could create an enlightened electorate so
that the parties and their candidates would find it to their advantage to
seek voter support on the basis of the real issues rather than appealing
to public and frequently superficial concerns of the moment.
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).
November 9, 1972
The President
Page Two
Additionally, there is urgent need to stimulate voluntary
and private problem solving in American life if the role of government
is to be kept within the limits that will continue constitutional
government that vests ultimate power and responsibility in the people
themselves.
As concerned as I am, I would like to be free to join
others in organizing nationally for such purposes. I am convinced
there is too much at stake to continue to risk our national future
on achieving needed reform through successfully surviving the crisis
solution process and the ever increasing reliance for problem solving
on governmental action.
It is for these reasons that I submit my resignation as
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to be
effective at your pleasure. I believe I can be more helpful to you and
the nation in such an effort. I am grateful for the encouragement you
have given me with respect to this future activity.
Fortunately for all of us, your re-election by an historic
margin opens up the opportunity not only to establish a generation of
peace but to achieve actions as fundamental domestically as those
you are achieving internationally.
With gratitude, admiration and prayerful support of your
efforts.
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).
TilE WIIITE HOt:sE
W,\SIIINGTOS
November 27, 1972
Dear George:
Your resignation as Secretary of Housing and Urban
Develop1nent is a source of special regret to me,
even though we have discus sed your desire to .l~ave
the Cabinet for several months. I am grateful that
you have agreed to serve until confirmation of a
successor, and I accept your resignation effective
at that time.
As a member of the Cabinet, you have contributed
enorn1ously not only of your time and energies, but
also of that profound concern for the public good that
~s been the mark of your life and your career.
Yburs has been one of th':! most difficult assignments
in the government, and you have handled it with great
dedication and skill. Despite the bleak prospects
which confronted the housing industry in 1969, ycur
creative and determined actions. have helped not. only
to set all-time records in housing production in each
of the last two years, but also to energize a rebound­ing
economy.
Your record is remarkable also for your forthright­ness
in pointing out the deficiencies in the untried
housing programs that you were called upon, when
taking office, to administer; for the innovative ways
in which you worked to re-shape other HUD programs
to reverse central city decay; for the programs you
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).
2
set in motion to modernize the l10using industry, and
Yor your establishment of 1nechanisms to stabilize
the industry through a steadier and broader flow of
mortgage funds. In addition, I have been particularly
impressed by your success in decentralizing your
department's operations, and bringing them closer
to the communities and people they arc meant to serve.
As you know, I share your concern with the need to en­courage
priv'\te problem-solving, and so to reduce the
public temptation to expand the role of government
beyond its proper lilllits. I also have great respect for
your long and distinguished record of stimulating pri­vate
and voluntary action. Thus, although I shall greatly
miss having you as a member of the Administration, I
am confident that in your private capacity you will con­tinue
to play a vital and const:~uctive role in achieving
the goals that we seek for America as we approach the
Nation's 200th anniversary.
It has been a great personal pleasure to work with you
during these past four years. Pat joins oe in extending
to you and Lenore our warmest good wishes, and in the
hope that we will continue to see both of you often in the
years ahead.
Sincerely,
@hJ
Honorable George W. Romney
Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development
Washington, D. C. 20410
I' _. ~
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

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Full-text

THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, D. C .. 20410
The President
The White House
Dear Mr. President:
November 9, 1972
In submitting my resignation from the Cabinet, I want to
thank you for the privilege of serving the nation under your great
leadership. The experience has been a rewarding and invaluable one
that, among other things, has deepened my understanding of our
country's political processes.
As you know from our several in-depth discussions during
the past year, my experience in public service has convinced me that
inherent limitations in those political processes make the achievement
of fundamental reform too dependent upon a crisis.
This results primarily from the essential but limited
function of political parties and their candidates. Their basic function
is to compete for the responsibility to govern. To win in this competition
they must win elections. To do this they tend to avoid specific positions
concerning, and discussion of, "life and death" issues in their." formative
and controversial stage for fear of offending uninformed voters and thus
losing votes. As a result, elections and candidates. seldom focus
adequately on those vital issues concerning which the electorate must
be knowledgeable if needed reform is to occur without a crisis.
To remedy this deficiency, the nation needs a coalition of
concerned citizens dedicated to defining such issues, assembling the
relevant, provable facts, identifying the alternate solutions or solution,
and communicating their fin::lings to the people. Such a body of truth .
seekers and communicators could create an enlightened electorate so
that the parties and their candidates would find it to their advantage to
seek voter support on the basis of the real issues rather than appealing
to public and frequently superficial concerns of the moment.
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).
November 9, 1972
The President
Page Two
Additionally, there is urgent need to stimulate voluntary
and private problem solving in American life if the role of government
is to be kept within the limits that will continue constitutional
government that vests ultimate power and responsibility in the people
themselves.
As concerned as I am, I would like to be free to join
others in organizing nationally for such purposes. I am convinced
there is too much at stake to continue to risk our national future
on achieving needed reform through successfully surviving the crisis
solution process and the ever increasing reliance for problem solving
on governmental action.
It is for these reasons that I submit my resignation as
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to be
effective at your pleasure. I believe I can be more helpful to you and
the nation in such an effort. I am grateful for the encouragement you
have given me with respect to this future activity.
Fortunately for all of us, your re-election by an historic
margin opens up the opportunity not only to establish a generation of
peace but to achieve actions as fundamental domestically as those
you are achieving internationally.
With gratitude, admiration and prayerful support of your
efforts.
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).
TilE WIIITE HOt:sE
W,\SIIINGTOS
November 27, 1972
Dear George:
Your resignation as Secretary of Housing and Urban
Develop1nent is a source of special regret to me,
even though we have discus sed your desire to .l~ave
the Cabinet for several months. I am grateful that
you have agreed to serve until confirmation of a
successor, and I accept your resignation effective
at that time.
As a member of the Cabinet, you have contributed
enorn1ously not only of your time and energies, but
also of that profound concern for the public good that
~s been the mark of your life and your career.
Yburs has been one of th':! most difficult assignments
in the government, and you have handled it with great
dedication and skill. Despite the bleak prospects
which confronted the housing industry in 1969, ycur
creative and determined actions. have helped not. only
to set all-time records in housing production in each
of the last two years, but also to energize a rebound­ing
economy.
Your record is remarkable also for your forthright­ness
in pointing out the deficiencies in the untried
housing programs that you were called upon, when
taking office, to administer; for the innovative ways
in which you worked to re-shape other HUD programs
to reverse central city decay; for the programs you
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).
2
set in motion to modernize the l10using industry, and
Yor your establishment of 1nechanisms to stabilize
the industry through a steadier and broader flow of
mortgage funds. In addition, I have been particularly
impressed by your success in decentralizing your
department's operations, and bringing them closer
to the communities and people they arc meant to serve.
As you know, I share your concern with the need to en­courage
priv'\te problem-solving, and so to reduce the
public temptation to expand the role of government
beyond its proper lilllits. I also have great respect for
your long and distinguished record of stimulating pri­vate
and voluntary action. Thus, although I shall greatly
miss having you as a member of the Administration, I
am confident that in your private capacity you will con­tinue
to play a vital and const:~uctive role in achieving
the goals that we seek for America as we approach the
Nation's 200th anniversary.
It has been a great personal pleasure to work with you
during these past four years. Pat joins oe in extending
to you and Lenore our warmest good wishes, and in the
hope that we will continue to see both of you often in the
years ahead.
Sincerely,
@hJ
Honorable George W. Romney
Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development
Washington, D. C. 20410
I' _. ~
Reproduced from the manuscript collections at Boise State University Library.
Len Jordan Collection MSS 006, Box 190, Folder 16.
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).